Vehicle seat conversion apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

An assembly called an adapter base allows for replacement of an original equipment seat with a non-original equipment seat in a vehicle by reuse of original equipment seat legs with horizontally oriented fasteners to a non-original equipment seat configured for vertical oriented fasteners. The method involves removing the original seat to make the original equipment seat legs then available for attachment to an adapter base which allows for secure installation of non-original seats in various configurations.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The benefit is claimed of provisional application No. 62/375,384 filedon 15 Aug. 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to vehicle seating, in particular for apparatusand system for allowing a seat supplied by the Original EquipmentManufacturer (OEM) to be removed and replaced by a non-OEM seat. Mostcommonly the vehicle is a van.

BACKGROUND

Seat replacement in vehicles is generally performed for the purpose ofupgrading original seating for comfort or quality or for reconfiguringthe placement of seats. In addition, seat replacement is performed toincrease the capacity of seating in vehicles such as commuter vans. Itmay also be done to provide for a specific use of a van, sport utilityvehicle, bus or mini-van or for a racing conversion. The most commonprocess for mounting replacement seats which are not original equipmentin vans is to mount the seats through the floor of the vehicle. Thistypically requires a customized procedure that does not engage any ofthe seat mounting structures from the OEM seating. A primary challengeis to mount the replacement seats with sufficient strength anddurability for safety and long term use. The replacement seats (non-OEMor after-market) are a complete customization with little or no re-useof the original equipment. The design and installation of replacementseats is often done in a “shop” environment with little or no quality orqualified engineering attention. In exemplary methods, mountingreplacement seats requires drilling bolt holes through the van floor,although existing holes may be used, and strengthening members attachedabove the floor and mounting brackets below the floor to provide theintended strength and rigidity. This results in high cost andsubstantial risk such as dislodgment of the new seat in any collision orother traumatic event or even in rough use.

This is contrasted to the quality design and production automotiveengineering and testing that original seating design undergoes includingtesting by crash tests to ensure reliability for passenger safety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are prior art showing exemplary OEM seating in a 2016Ford Transit T150 as fixed to the vehicle.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are prior art showing exemplary OEM seating in a 2016Ford Transit T350 as fixed to the vehicle.

FIG. 3A is prior art showing a photograph of the lower portion of theOEM seat leg.

FIG. 3B is prior art showing a partial photograph of the floor of theFord Transit T150 and of the Ford Transit T350.

FIG. 3C is prior art showing an OEM seat and seat legs with fixed hookand hinged latch structures during removal from a vehicle.

FIG. 3D is prior art showing that certain OEM seats have only one seatleg.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a seat conversionusing the adapter base installed with an after-market or non-OEM seatonto OEM seat legs as installed in a van floor. The defined lateral andaxial directions are shown with A being the axial direction and L beingthe lateral direction.

FIG. 5A shows an exploded perspective view of an embodiment as in FIG. 4of a seat conversion using the adapter base installed with anafter-market or non-OEM seat onto OEM seat legs as installed in a vanfloor.

FIG. 5B shows the exploded view of an embodiment as in FIG. 5A of a seatconversion but not installed in a van floor so as to show the OEM seatlegs with the hook and hinged latch.

FIG. 6A shows an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a seatconversion as installed in a van floor using the adapter base installedwith an after-market or non-OEM seat onto OEM seat legs. Also shown isthe internal seat frame to which the seat cushions and adapter base areattached.

FIG. 6B shows the exploded view of an embodiment as in FIG. 6A of a seatconversion but not installed in a van floor so as to show the OEM seatlegs with the hook and hinged latch.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are respectively a perspective view from above and aperspective view from below of an embodiment of the adapter base.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are respectively a perspective view from above and aperspective view from below of exemplar OEM seat.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are a perspective view from above and a perspective viewfrom below of an assembled view of an embodiment with a pair of OEM seatlegs attached to an adapter base (fasteners being omitted).

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view from the above of a portion of anon-OEM seat frame for a conversion seat and an embodiment of theadapter base.

FIG. 11 shows an exploded/cut-away perspective view of an embodiment ofthe conversion with the adapter base installed with an after-market ornon-OEM seat onto OEM seat legs. Also shown is the internal seat framefrom FIG. 10 to which the seat cushions and the adapter base areattached.

FIG. 12 shows an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of aconversion using the adapter base configured for a non-OEM seat and witha seat console, along with the OEM seat legs.

FIGS. 13A and 13B show exploded perspective views from above and below,respectively, of an embodiment of a conversion with the adapter baseconfigured for a non-OEM two seat arrangement, along with the two seatsand OEM seat legs and the seat frames.

FIGS. 14A and 14B show exploded perspective views from above and below,respectively, of an embodiment of a conversion the adapter baseconfigured for a non-OEM three seat arrangement, along with the threeseats and OEM seat legs and the seat frames.

FIGS. 15A-15B show respectively the OEM floor and seating for a T150 andT350 version showing the struts and cross bars built into the floor asOEM.

FIGS. 16A-16F shows a series of conversions from a T150 OEM van that hasOEM struts with cross bars and OEM seat legs (not shown). Also, theadapter base identification number is shown for each conversion seatarrangement and the seats are numbered for reference.

FIGS. 17A-17F shows a series of conversions from a T350 OEM van that hasOEM struts and OEM seat legs (not shown). Also the adapter baseidentification number is shown for each conversion seat arrangement andthe seats are numbered for reference.

FIGS. 18A-18I show a set of adapter bases varied for adapting specifiedseating conversions along with the adapter base identification number

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for replacingOriginal Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) seats in a vehicle. Most commonlythe seat replacement is done in a van. It is typically but notnecessarily, that the existing seat is the OEM seat and that thereplacement seat is customized for providing levels of upgraded comfortor specialized seating capacity or arrangement.

The invention is based on the realization that the design andinstallation of the OEM seats is based on high levels of engineeringsuch as for manufacture of large numbers of vehicles and to ensurestrong safety and durability such as from a major automotivemanufacturer. This is compared with the “workshop” level of design andworkmanship that could evolve in a seat replacement shop.

Specifically, the invention is based on the realization that certainvehicles have OEM seating legs which may be left in place or reinstalledupon removal of the original seat and with use of a transition member,referred to herein as an adapter base, are capable of supporting anon-OEM seat construction which would otherwise have requiredsubstantial modifications to the floor and structural mounting membersaffixed to the vehicle floor. The invention works when the originalseat, the OEM seats, has legs that are fitted securely to the floor ofthe van and the original seat is removably attached to the leg(s). Insuch case then, the seat leg and the securing structure and the floor ofthe OEM vehicle are retained and the replacement seat is fixed in placeby way of an adapter base that attaches to the OEM seat leg and to thereplacement seat. The present apparatus and method implements aconfiguration of an adapter base member that acts to allow transition toa new seat to take the place of a removed seat yet using the OEM seatlegs and the OEM floor structure for attachment of the OEM seat legs.

More specifically, OEM seat legs including the existing means ofattachment of the OEM seat legs to the OEM seat and of the seat legs tothe OEM vehicle floor structure becomes available for use with areplacement seat. As will also be understood, by using the OEM seat legsthe entire structure of the OEM vehicle floor and its attachment meansto the OEM seat legs is available for use. However if the replacementseat is not an OEM seat, it may not be able to attach directly to theOEM legs. Thus the transition structure, the adapter base is requiredwhich can attach to the legs and can attach to the replacement non-OEMseat or seats. Because the replacement or otherwise non-OEM seating canhave a variety of configurations, the adapter base is designed to havereadily available configuration variations both for the OEM seat legpositions to which it will attach and to the seating arrangement. Aswill be understood, the term seating arrangement comprises single seats,multiple seats and auxiliary accommodations such as a tray or a console.

With the availability of the OEM seat legs in specific van models, theadapter base is then configured along with attachment structure to thenew seating arrangement to provide secure and easily installed newseating. The adapter base in one embodiment has been designed so thatits basic configuration works for all seating arrangements embodimentsby simple variations. In some cases this simply means that a particularadapter base construction can satisfy several seating arrangements onlythat holes be drilled in it to meet different seating arrangementfastening requirements. In other cases certain members are varied inlength to meet different seating arrangements.

For convenience of understanding, in this description, the orientationof the van is defined as having an axial direction, which is from frontto back (and vice versa) and a transverse or lateral direction which isacross the width of the van and being at right angle (to the left andright) to the axial direction.

The invention is based on three connection configurations. The first iswith respect to the OEM seat legs (sometimes simply referred to as seatlegs or legs). In the OEM condition, the legs come mounted to the vanfloor by means which includes a fixed hook and a hinged latch on the legwhich connect to floor latch points that are spaced apart axially. Theseat legs are also connected to the OEM seats, typically by bolt and nutfasteners. To remove the OEM seat it is appreciated that it is possibleto simply detach the OEM seat from the seat leg while leaving the seatleg attached to the floor. However this is an awkward process. Moreconveniently, the OEM seats may be relatively easily removed byreleasing the seat legs from the floor attachment so that the seat andthe legs are removed together. The OEM seats may be readily disconnectedfrom the legs by disconnecting the seat from axially spaced apart seatconnection points on the legs. In the particular van embodimentsdescribed herein the floor latch points are fixed bar structures affixedto axially extending struts built into the vehicle floor. Embodiments ofthe adapter base in the present invention are designed to have availableforward transversely (laterally) spaced apart connection points and reartransversely (laterally) spaced apart connection points for attachmentto the OEM legs and to the replacement seats. With this consistentconfiguration of connection points, both to the legs and to thereplacement seat or seats, the adapter base may be configured with ageneral repeatable structure for each of the two connections, to thelegs and to the seat(s). In a specific embodiment the adapter base ismade as an assembly having axially extending bars spaced apart toconnect to the legs at the same connection points at which the OEM seathad been attached. In this way the legs can be attached to the floor ofthe van the same way that they were allowed to attach originally. In aspecific embodiment, the adapter base also has as part of its assemblytransversely extending bars which have spaced-apart connection points toconnect to transversely spaced-apart connection points of the seat. Inthat respect, there is a forward transversely extending bar that alignsto the forward transversely (laterally) spaced apart connection pointsof the new seat and a rear transversely extending bar that aligns to therear transversely (laterally) spaced apart attachment points of the newseat.

A relatively simple general design is disclosed herein to allow suchreplacement over a wide variety of existing seat leg configurations aswell as a wide variety of replacement seat structures. That is the OEMlayout of the seat arrangement is varied and that variation is fixed bythe allowed seat leg positions. As will be seen however an increasedvariety of seat arrangements can be accomplished with the presentinvention despite the seat leg attachments to the floor be fixed as inthe OEM construction.

In the most basic form a single seat is replaced by another single seat.But it is frequently the case that two seats are adjacent to each other.In such a configuration there would be three legs. The adapter basewould extend across all three legs and be attached to all three legs,and the seat connecting structure of the adapter base will be arrangedto hold the two seats. Similarly, it is possible to adapt the inventiveconcept for a row of three seats. Beyond that, virtually any number ofadjacent seats can be easily taken care of with the adapter basestructures, each of the leg fitting structure and the seat fittingstructure being simply made to accept as many legs and seats,respectively as in the row.

In the more detailed description following, there will be describedseveral varied embodiments of the invention. In one such set ofvariations is the structure of a single seat, a seat with a console or atray, a double seat and a triple seat.

An embodiment of application of the invention is exemplified by the 2016Ford Transit T150 and the 2016 Ford Transit T350. These will be referredto as the T150 and the T350 respectively.

Now, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the full descriptionof exemplary embodiments follows.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an OEM seating configuration is shown forthe 2016 Ford Transit T150 van interior the side view FIG. 1A and therear view FIG. 1B, in which the OEM seats 15 are supported and attachedto the van floor by OEM seat legs 10. These seat legs 10 are removablyattached to the shown OEM seats 15 and can be detached from andreattached to the vehicle floor 14 as detailed below by a fixed hook andhinged latches on the seat legs (see FIG. 3A) connecting to the OEMattachment points fixed on the vehicle floor 14 (see FIG. 3B).

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an OEM seating configuration is shown forthe 2016 Ford Transit T350 van interior the side view FIG. 2A and therear view FIG. 2B which has OEM seat legs 10 of the same relevantstructure as the T150, that is that they can be detached from the OEMseat 15 and may be detached from and reattached to the van floor 14.

FIG. 3A shows a photograph of the OEM seat leg 10 which is exemplary ofthe seat leg for each of the T150 and T350 having a fixed hook 11A and ahinged latch 11B (which is also understood to effectively be a hookalbeit mechanically built for attachment and release). FIG. 3B is apartial view of a floor of the T150 and T350 showing fixed cross-bars 12(also called receiver bars) which are attached to axially-extendingstruts 16 built into the vehicle floor 14 (actually the Fig. shows thecarpet, the floor of the van being under the carpet).

The seat hook structures 11A and 11B shown in FIG. 3A are attached tothe fixed cross-bars 12 which are affixed to the vehicle floor 14 shownin the photograph FIG. 3B. The axially extending struts 16 and the fixedcross-bars 12 being part of the OEM floor structure and along with theOEM seat legs 10 provides assurance that the robust OEM level of designand construction is retained. In other embodiments, the OEM seat leg 10structures can affixed or connected to the vehicle floor 14 by othermeans, such as a bolt/nut combination fastener, however in such casesthere is required careful design and engineering to both be ofsufficient strength and also full compliance with attachment to the legs10.

FIG. 3C shows the rear seats 15 of a T150 or a T350 in the process ofbeing removed (actually the photo is of the T150, however for the T350it is the same procedure). Shown structures for the OEM seat legs 10 arethe fixed hook 11A and hinged latch 11B. The OEM seat leg 10 is attachedto the OEM seat 15 by a vertical mounting bracket 11C which ispermanently affixed to the OEM seats and attaches to the seat legs 10 bynut/bolt fastener combinations (not shown). The fixed cross-bars 12 areavailable for receiving the hooks 11A and 11B of the legs 10. This doneby disengaging the hinged latches 11B from the cross bars 12 whilerotating the entire structure forward. Then by further rotating thestructure forward the hooks 11A can be released and the seatingarrangement lifted free.

FIG. 3C shows a seat in the T150 that is adjacent to a wheel well andhas a seat leg on one side while the other side is fastened to the wheelwell.

The full arrangement of the van floors for the T150 and T350 are shownin FIGS. 15A and 15B.

FIG. 4 depicts an overview, a single seat embodiment in which a non-OEMseat 20 (also referred to as a replacement seat) is connected to anadapter base 25, which is in turn connected to the OEM seat legs 10installed on a van floor 14. For reference clarity, the axial A andlateral L directions are identified. Additional drawings described belowdepict details and other embodiments of the various components.

FIG. 5A depicts an exploded view of a single seat conversion embodimentshowing the relative positions of the seating components which includethe replacement seat 20, the adapter base 25 and the seat legs 10 shownas installed in the floor 14 of the subject van. FIG. 5B depicts thesame conversion embodiment as in FIG. 5A except showing it separatedfrom the van floor and showing the hook 11A and the hinged latches 11B.

FIG. 6A depicts an overview of a further exploded view of an exemplarysingle seat conversion embodiment showing the relative positions of theseating components which include the replacement seat 20 exploded toshow the replacement upholstered portion 20A, the replacement seat frame60 including the seat back frame 60A and the seat base frame 60B of thereplacement seat frame 60, the adapter base 25 and the OEM seat legs 10showing it as installed in the floor 14 of the subject van. FIG. 6Bdepicts the same conversion embodiment as in FIG. 6A except showing itseparated from the van floor and showing the hook 11A and the hingedlatches 11B.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B in an exemplary embodiment there is shownthe adapter base 25 which has leg attaching portion 32 and seatattaching portion 34 which are integrally connected. The leg attachingportion 32 comprises a set (in this embodiment, a pair) of spaced apartaxially extending beams 36 (which can be hollow or solid, extendingaxially when installed). The axially extending beams 36 have holes 38for mounting them to the OEM seat legs 10. The seat attaching portion 34has a laterally extending forward beam 40 (extending laterally wheninstalled), made up of a forward horizontal planar strut 40A and anangle strut 40B forming an obtuse angle and a laterally extending rearbeam 46 made up of a rear horizontal planar strut 46A and a verticalstrut 46B forming a right angle. There is also an end strut 52. Holes 39are placed in a variety of selected locations on the laterally extendingforward beam 40 and the laterally extending rear beam 46 to accommodatea variety of non-OEM seat mounting fastener positions as will be furtherexplained below. While the functional portions will be described furtherbelow in their application, as can be appreciated the structure may bemade other ways so as to provide the needed rigidity, with the primaryconsistent structure being able to attach to the OEM seat legs 10 byaxially extending spaced apart beams and to the replacement seat bylaterally extending spaced apart beams. It will be made clear that theconfiguration of the adapter base presenting the forward beam 40 and therear beam 46 along with the axial beams 36 present an assembly that canbe readily varied for numerous replacement seating arrangements withoutneeding further exacting engineering; but rather by simply making thelateral beams a desired length and putting in the number of axial beamsneeded to support whatever set of replacement seats are to be on thegiven adapter base.

FIGS. 8A and 8B show the OEM seat legs 10 in schematic drawing form asexemplary for describing the present invention. These are shown in thespaced-apart relationship as is exemplary of their installation in thevan. The seat legs 10 are mounted axially of the van with a bottomsurface 12 resting on the van floor 14 (FIG. 3B) and affixed to the vanfloor 14 by the fixed hook 11A and hinged latch 11B to the latch bars 12which are affixed to the vehicle floor 14. The fixed hook 11A is at thefront of the seat leg and the hinged latch 11B is at the rear of theseat leg. The seat legs 10 have an upward extending rear support member17 terminating in a rear flange portion 18 defined by spaced apart rearmounting flange plates 18A and 18B and an upward extending forwardsupport member 21 terminating in a forward flange portion 19 defined byspaced apart forward mounting flange plates 19A and 19B. The rearsupport member 17 and the forward support member 21 are maintained inseparated position by a bar portion 26. The rear support member 17 hasmounting holes 18C (two of them) and 18D (also two of them) locatedlaterally-oppositely in each of rear flange mounting plates 18A and 18B.Also, the forward support member 21 has mounting holes 19C and 19Dlocated oppositely in each of the forward flange mounting flange plates19A and 19B.

FIGS. 9A and 9B depict an exemplary assembly of the seat legs 10 to anembodiment of the adapter base 25 (as seen in FIGS. 7A and 7B) fromperspective views above and below the assembly respectively. Althoughnot shown it is understood that fasteners extend through the holes inthe seat legs 10 and aligned holes 18C in the legs aligned with holes 39(not visible) in the adapter base 25.

FIG. 10 shows an exploded perspective view of the adapter base 25 with aseat base frame 60B. The seat base frame 60B is installed as part of thenon-OEM seat which will be further described below. The seat base frame60B has axially extending struts 62 and 64 extending from a front bar 66to a rear bar 68. The struts 62 and 64 are shaped and ported (meaningholes or orifices) for fasteners to attach them to the adapter base 25,specifically to the planar struts 40A and 46A. Also shown in FIG. 10 areexemplary vertically facing orifices 41A for receiving verticallyoriented fasteners on the seat base frame 60B and mating orifices 41B onthe adapter base 25 for receiving the same fasteners. Similarhorizontally facing orifices 38 on the adapter base beam 36 are utilizedto mate with fastener orifices located on the flange plates of the OEMseat leg as described above.

FIG. 11 shows a conversion embodiment of an exploded/cut awayperspective view of a single seat in fully upholstered form in which theseat legs 10, adapter base 25 and the seat base frame 60B as part of anon-OEM seat 20 are shown.

From the basic embodiment as shown for a single seat structure, thereare many variables available. As will be appreciated the design of theadapter base is such that it is variable while keeping the basic designstructure of the lateral beams and the axial beams so that the strengthfrom that design is kept for all arrangements.

One such variable is the embodiment of FIG. 12 in which the adapter base25 is elongated beyond the side of the non-OEM seat 20 to provide forfurther mounting adjacent the seat 20 in which a console 72 can befitted in place.

FIGS. 13A and 13B are exploded perspective views of an exemplary non-OEMtwo seat assembly from above and below, respectively. Shown in thisembodiment is an embodiment in which the adapter base 25 is sufficientlylong, laterally to hold two non-OEM seats 20A and 20B.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are exploded perspective views of an exemplary non-OEMthree seat assembly from above and below, respectively. Shown in thisembodiment is an adapter base 25 which is sufficiently long laterally tohold three seats and having a third seat leg 10.

As will be seen below there are numerous replacement seatingarrangements for each of the T150 and T350. However, for preserving therobust OEM construction these are limited to using the OEM placement ofthe floor struts and cross bars and with the OEM seat legs. This isshown in FIG. 15A for the T150 in its OEM 10 Passenger Commuter seatingversion with floor struts 16 and in FIG. 15B for the T350 in its OEM 12Passenger Commuter seating version with floor struts 16.

A set of plan views FIGS. 16A-16F shows favored conversionconfigurations of seat arrangement embodiments in the Ford Transit T150in which single, double and triple seating can be selected as well asconsole and or tray can be accommodated. The conversions consistentlyhave the same number of seats as the OEM version, but the seats are anupgrade and either consoles or trays are applied. But in each case theOEM struts 16 and cross bars 12 are used as shown. Also the adapter basenumerical designations (BASE No.) are indicated in the Figures and thesewill be further described below. Also the seats are numbered in order toallow convenient seat arrangement planning

FIG. 16A is 7-seat configuration with 22-inch seats 70, which aretypically but not necessarily leather covered (can be real or artificialleather) and with consoles 72. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T150 7 PASSENGER SUPER VIP model.

FIG. 16B is a 7-seat configuration with 18-inch seats 80 which aretypically, but not necessarily cloth covered. This is identified as a2016 Ford Transit T150 7 PASSENGER COMMUTER model.

FIG. 16C is an 8-seat configuration with 22-inch seats 70, which aretypically but not necessarily leather covered (can be real or artificialleather) and with consoles 72. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T150 8 PASSENGER SUPER VIP model.

FIG. 16D is an 8-seat configuration with 18-inch seats 80, which aretypically but not necessarily cloth. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T150 8 PASSENGER COMMUTER model.

FIG. 16E is a 9-seat configuration with 18-inch seats 80, which aretypically but not necessarily cloth. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T150 9 PASSENGER COMMUTER model. Note that the differencebetween the 8-seat configuration of FIG. 16D and the 9-seatconfiguration of FIG. 16E is the absence of the third, center seat inthe 8-seat configuration with a tray feature and three seats in thatrear row in the 9-seat configuration. They both use the same adapterbase on that rear row.

FIG. 16F is a 10-seat configuration with 18-inch seats 80, which aretypically but not necessarily cloth. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T150 10 PASSENGER COMMUTER model.

A set of plan views FIGS. 17A-17E shows favored configuration of seatarrangement embodiments in the Ford Transit T350 in which single, doubleand triple seating can be selected and a console or tray can beaccommodated as shown. Also the seats are numbered in order to allowconvenient seat arrangement planning.

FIG. 17A is a 10-seat configuration with 22-inch seats 70, which aretypically but not necessarily leather covered (can be real or artificialleather) and with consoles 72. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T350 10 PASSENGER SUPER VIP model.

FIG. 17B is a 10-seat configuration with 18-inch seats 80, which aretypically but not necessarily cloth. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T350 10 PASSENGER COMMUTER model.

FIG. 17C is an 11-seat configuration with 18-inch seats 80, which aretypically but not necessarily cloth. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T350 11 PASSENGER COMMUTER model.

FIG. 17D is a 12-seat configuration with 18-inch seats 80, which aretypically but not necessarily cloth. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T350 12 PASSENGER COMMUTER model.

FIG. 17E is a 13-seat configuration with 18-inch seats 80, which aretypically but not necessarily cloth. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T350 13 PASSENGER COMMUTER model.

FIG. 17F is a 14-seat configuration with 18-inch seats 80, which aretypically but not necessarily cloth. This is identified as the 2016 FordTransit T350 14 PASSENGER COMMUTER model.

But in each case the OEM struts 16 and cross bars 12 are used as shown.Also the adapter base numerical designations are indicated in theFigure; these will be further described below.

Figure series 18A-18 are the adapter bases with their numericalidentification as shown in the Fig. series 16 and 17 and elsewhere inthe Figs. In the following figures, location of the fastener holes forthe 18-inch and 22-inch seats is shown by the circled numbers (18) and(22), respectively. While the exact dimensions for the adapter baseparts and the fastener hole locations, for its various seatconfigurations is not shown, that aspect is within the skill of a personhaving ordinary skill in this technology by following this description.

The adapter base design allows a significant quality control and costcontrol inventive contribution to the overall conversion invention. Thatis by using a design for the adapter base that is adjustable to be madein different lengths required while retaining the basic robustengineering design for attaching to the seat frame and to the seat legs.An even further inventive efficiency that is available with the adapterbase design is that it can made, either in advance or to order toaccommodate either both or selected one of the 18-inch or 22-inch seats.This is done by locating the fastening holes to align with cooperativefastening holes in both the 18-inch and/or 22-inch seat frames so thatprior construction of the adapter bases can then allow efficientconversions from an inventory of adapter bases. Further the adapter basedesign is readily configured to fasten to either two or three seat legsby simply applying the seat leg beams on the front and rear struts. Thiscan be accomplished by providing in advance or to order the fasteningholes in the front and rear struts.

FIGS. 18A through 18I show a variety of adapter base configurations. Itcan be considered that the adapter base 6101 of FIG. 18A is the basicstructure having a seat attachment portion (as described with referenceto FIGS. 7A and 7B) which presents the flat surfaces 40A and 46A whichare commonly planar and the seat leg portion (also as seen in FIGS. 7Aand 7B). Now as the descriptions of the adapter bases proceeds it can beappreciated that by simply extending the length of the seat attachmentportion and adding elements for the seat leg portion the same design canadapt (thus the name adapter base) to accommodate to the samereplacement seat design and to the same OEM floor structure and seatlegs. Notably that same adapter design and its variation allows forfastener placement for two types of seats. One of these is called the18-inch seat and the other is called the 22-inch seat. In this contextthe 18 inch seat is for the Commuter designated conversion and the22-inch seat is for the VIP conversion. The seat attachment portionbeing a simple flat member (40A and 46A in FIG. 18A) can be providedwith fastener holes for either the 18 or 22-inch seat designation, whichare shown in circles in the adapter base figures of FIGS. 18A-18I. Theadapters can be made with all the holes, (18) and (22) or with just oneor the other. This then allows for great integrity and efficiency ofmanufacture and installation and anticipating inventory.

Also, the following chart matches each adapter base with its applicationin the conversions shown in FIGS. 16A-16F and 17A-17F. It alsodesignates the particular employment of number of seats and/orconsoles/trays that each adapter base accommodates; and its being in aT150 and/or T350 conversion and its row position.

Adapter Number Number of Base FIGS. Console/Trays Seats T150 T350Placement 6101 18A; 16A, 168, 16C, None 1 Y Y 2nd Row 16D, 16E, 16F,17A, Passenger 17B, 17C, 17D, 17E, 17F Side 6102 18B; 17A, 178, 17C,Console: 16C 1 N Y 3rd Row 17D, 17E, 17F Passenger Side 6201* 2 N N 2ndRow Driver Side 6202 18C; 16F, 17E(2) None 2 Y Y 3rd Row Driver Side6204* 18D 1 or 2 N N 2nd Row Driver Side 6205 18E; 16A, 16B (2), 16CConsole: 16A, 1 or 2 Y Y 3rd Row 16D, 16E, 17A (2), 17B 16C, 17A (2)Driver (2), 17C (2), 17D(2) Trays: 16B (2), Side 16D, 16E, 17B (2), 17C(2), 17D (2) 6209 18F; 16A, 16B, 16C, Consoles: 16A 2 Y N 2 Passenger16D, 16E, 16F, Front Hole 6301 18G; 17A, 17B, 17C, None 3 N Y 3Passenger 17D, 17E, 17F Front Hole 6302 18H; 16A, 16C, 17B, Consoles:16A, 3 Y Y 3 Passenger 17C, 17D, 17E, 17F 16C Rear Hole Tray: 17B 630418I; 16B, 16D, 16E, 16F Tray: 16B, 16D 3 Y N 3 Passenger Rear Hole*These adapter bases are not shown in any conversion figure.

The foregoing are specific embodiments for the T150 and T350 OEMvehicles. However the structure and method of adapting any van in whichOEM seat legs can be attached to an OEM floor construction would thengive access to the invention by allowing design of an adapter base thathas a seat attachment portion configured to be fastened to a new seatand a seat leg attachment portion configured to be fastened to the OEMseat leg such that the seat leg is in its OEM attachment to the floorconstruction. The adapter base is readily varied by elongating its seatattachment portion and by adding and positioning its seat leg attachmentmembers.

It can be appreciated that the adapter base can be made as in theforegoing example to work with a particular van model and particularseat models. In fact, it is the case that a catalog of replacement seatsis common in the industry suppliers. Therefore the adapter base or aseries of adapter base designs can be made for popular van models andfor each of a catalog of seats, and can be made in advance toaccommodate popular vans and seats.

It is understood that the underlying fundamental design concept for theadapter base satisfies the need for a robust design at the same level ofquality as the OEM design portions that reside in the van conversions.The design has available variations to accommodate one, two or threeseat options as well as accessory options in which the variations retainthe robust design qualities of the basic version.

With the foregoing description of embodiments of the invention, now willbe described methods of installing them.

The procedure begins with the general set of steps of removing theoriginal seats from the subject vehicle. This procedure provides thatthe seat legs be disengaged from the vehicle floor and then the seatwith the legs still attached is removed. Other ways of doing this can beelected, but it has been found that this is the most convenient. Invarious vehicle configurations, the seat legs are attached to thevehicle floor by a fixed hook and hinged latch on the seat and a fixedcross bar which receives the hook or hinged latch on the vehicle floor.In various embodiments axial structures are affixed to the vehicle floorwhich incorporate the fixed cross bars which receive the seat leg hookand hinged latch. FIGS. 3A, 8A and 8B show the OEM seat leg 10, fixedhook 11A and hinged latch 11B structures and FIG. 3B shows the vehiclefloor receiving cross bar 12 and the elongated strut 16 for certain OEMvehicles. These are also shown in FIGS. 15A-15B and the FIG. 16 and FIG.17 series. Specifically, FIGS. 15A and 15B show the axially orientedvehicle floor struts 16 which strengthen the floor-to-seat connection.After removing the seat/set leg combinations from the vehicle, fastenersconnecting the OEM seat legs and OEM seats (shown in FIG. 3C) areremoved separating the OEM seats from the OEM legs. Next, in variousembodiments a selected version of the disclosed adapter base 25 isattached to the OEM seat legs 10 according to the seats and seatingconfiguration desired (see Figs. series 16 and 17). Next, the chosennon-OEM seats 20 are attached to the adapter base 25 with verticallyoriented fasteners through adapter base structures 40A and 46A. Theorder of these two steps is not significant, the seats to adapter basefirst or the seat legs to adapter base first. FIGS. 7A and 7B showexemplary holes 39 for attaching the replacement seat and 38 forattaching the seat legs. Lastly, the OEM seat legs are reattached tostructures in the vehicle floor suitable for receiving the seat legs. Invarious embodiments, the receiving structures are the laterally-orientedcross bars 12 as seen in FIGS. 3B and 3C which are built into theaxially-extending OEM floor struts 16.

What has been described herein is considered merely illustrative of theprinciples of this invention. Accordingly, it is well within the purviewof one skilled in the art to provide other and different embodimentswithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for converting a van vehicle rearseating system from an OEM vehicle seating system to a customizedseating system wherein the OEM vehicle seating system has OEM seats andhas a plurality of spaced apart OEM seat legs, each seat leg having aforward seat connection portion and a rear seat connection portion towhich the OEM seats are attached and the seat legs being attached to thevehicle floor by an OEM attachment structure and the seat leg forwardseat connection portion having an upward extending forward supportmember terminating in a forward flange portion defined by spaced apartforward mounting flange plates defining an axially extending frontreceiving space and the rear seat connection portion having an upwardextending rear support member terminating in a rear flange portiondefined by spaced apart rear mounting flange plates defining an axiallyextending rear receiving space; the front receiving space and the rearreceiving space being axially aligned, the method comprising: providingan adapter base having an axial portion and a lateral portion, the axialportion comprising at least one axial member extending axially from afrontal end to a rearward end and adapted to have the frontal endsecured to the forward seat connection portion and the rearward endsecured to the rear seat connection portion, said at least one axialportion of the adapter base having a vertical height defined byoppositely facing surfaces, said oppositely facing surfaces being spacedapart to fit into both the rear receiving space and the front receivingspace respectively and the lateral portion comprising a pair of axiallyspaced apart lateral members extending in parallel laterally defining aforward lateral member and a rear lateral member and being connectedrespectively to the frontal end of the at least one axial member and tothe rearward end of the at least one axial member; removing one or moreOEM seats from respective OEM seat legs of the OEM seats; attaching theadapter base to at least one of the respective OEM seat legs byattaching the frontal end of the at least one axial member to arespective forward seat connection portion of the at least onerespective OEM seat leg and the rearward end of the at least one axialmember to a respective rear connection portion of the at least one OEMseat leg; whereby the pair of axially spaced apart lateral members willextend laterally; providing one or more replacement seats, eachreplacement seat having axial forward and rearward securing portionslocated to be secured respectively to the forward and rearward lateralmembers; and attaching the one or more replacement seats to the matinglateral members.
 2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the adapter base isconfigured to accept vertically oriented fasteners to connect to the oneor more replacement seats.
 3. A method as in claim 1 wherein the adapterbase is configured optionally to accept a single seat or a pair of seatswhich are supported by two seat legs and having an axial member that isattached to each of the two seat legs.
 4. A method as in claim 1 whereinthe adapter base is configured to accept three seats which adapter baseis supported by three seat legs and having axial members that areattached respectively to each of the three seat legs.
 5. A method as inclaim 1 wherein the adapter base is configured to accept a horizontallyoriented fastener to connect the base to the OEM seat legs.
 6. A methodas in claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a Ford Transit van.
 7. A method asin claim 1 wherein the adapter base has a plurality of axial members,the axial members being spaced apart so as to be attached to spacedapart seat legs.
 8. A method as in claim 7 wherein the adapter base hastwo axial members, the axial members being spaced apart so as to beattached to respectively spaced apart seat legs and the adapter basebeing attached optionally to one replacement seat or two replacementseats or one replacement seat and a console.
 9. A method as in claim 7wherein the adapter base has three axial members, the axial membersbeing spaced apart so as to be attached to respectively spaced apartseat legs and the adapter base being attached optionally to threereplacement seats or to two replacement seats and a console.
 10. Amethod as in claim 7 wherein the adapter base has four axial members,the axial members being spaced apart so as to be attached torespectively spaced apart seat legs and the adapter base being attachedoptionally to three replacement seats or to two replacement seats and aconsole.
 11. A method of seat conversion for Ford Transit T130 and T140vans having OEM seats and having axially extending OEM struts withcross-bars positioned on the struts to accept installation of OEM seatlegs which attach to the struts at the cross bars and which attach tothe OEM seats, the method retaining the OEM struts and cross-bars andretaining the OEM seat legs, the OEM seat legs each having a forwardseat connection portion and a rear seat connection portion and the seatleg forward seat connection portion having an upward extending forwardsupport member terminating in a forward flange portion defined by spacedapart forward mounting flange plates defining an axially extending frontreceiving space and the rear seat connection portion having an upwardextending rear support member terminating in a rear flange portiondefined by spaced apart rear mounting flange plates defining an axiallyextending rear receiving space; the front receiving space and the rearreceiving space being axially aligned, the method comprising: removingthe OEM seats from respective OEM seat legs of the OEM seats; providingan adapter base that has axial members having a vertical height definedby oppositely facing surfaces, said oppositely facing surfaces beingspaced apart to fit into both the rear receiving space and the frontreceiving space respectively and being positioned to attach to therespective OEM seat legs and that has lateral members positioned toattach to a replacement seat, wherein the axial members are provided ina selected plurality so as to allow attachment to such respective OEMseat legs as to allow selection of one, two or three replacement seatsand the lateral members are optionally of such length extendinglaterally to allow selection of one, two or three replacement seats;whereby the conversion retains robust OEM design for floor attachmentand seat legs and the provided adapter base can be varied within aspecific design concept that can be varied in the length of lateralmembers and the number of axial members for the selected one, two orthree replacement seats.
 12. A method as in claim 11 wherein theconversion optionally allows installation of consoles or trays.